Development evident throughout Academy Series: Raines

We’re just super proud of the boys, how they went and how they improved, and I suppose at our level of football it’s all about development and improvement

Academy Coach - Andrew Raines

Saturday marked the fifth and final round of the male NAB Academy Series, with the SUNS travelling to Blacktown to take on the Sydney Swans.

Despite going down to the Swans Academy, Coach Andrew Raines said there were plenty of positives for the group despite the 2-point loss.

“Probably our best academy performance over the last couple of years definitely,” Raines told goldcoastfc.com.au

“We’re just super proud of the boys, how they went and how they improved, and I suppose at our level of football it’s all about development and improvement.”

The NAB Academy Series was an opportunity for the players to not only develop their on-field skills but also their off field skills in a professionally run environment.

Players from both the Gold Coast and North Queensland regions took part in the Series and the subsequent training programs.

“With our North Queensland region coming down to our region here it’s always a challenging thing with relocation with the kids,” said Raines.

“They’ve come down and a lot of those boys have bought into the culture and environment of the Academy and to have those boys with the boys that have been here for a while you can see they’ve just bonded as a group and that was obviously displayed out on the field too which was great.”

The male SUNS Academy will now switch their focus, with the Under 17’s Academy taking on the Under 16’s Queensland team this weekend.

“It’s really important for those 17-year-olds going to the 18’s next year that we get a good look at them and keep developing them,” Raines said.

The Under 18 Academy players will now wait for the announcement of the Allies Squad and begin preparations for the boys to progress into Division 1 come June and July.